Points to ponder while wondering how much tarnish belongs on LeBron James' two title wins.

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By Kevin Gleason

recordonline.com

By Kevin Gleason

Posted Jun. 29, 2014 at 10:30 AM

By Kevin Gleason
Posted Jun. 29, 2014 at 10:30 AM

» Social News

Points to ponder while wondering how much tarnish belongs on LeBron James' two title wins:

Are all title-winning stars equally deserving? Or does LeBron lose points by potentially manipulating rosters for the second time in four years, first with Miami and perhaps again as a new free agent.

Because as much as I love LeBron, I'm not fond of him working every angle to stack the roster that will bear his name. Funny, I don't remember Michael Jordan bouncing around playgrounds choosing sides.

Once was perfectly acceptable. LeBron probably was never going to win much more in Cleveland, a franchise not exactly reminiscent of the Jordan Bulls. So LeBron moved on while helping load his team in Miami. Again, that was LeBron's right.

And he's perfectly within his rights to do it again, to finagle some kind of power play in another city with Carmelo Anthony, or whatever.

But if he does, I just don't want to hear his name mentioned alongside Jordan ever again.

Because Jordan won six titles with one team. He didn't change the sides despite losing to Isiah Thomas' Pistons three straight times in the playoffs. Instead, he helped Scottie Pippen develop into an All-Star and they swept the Pistons the following season for the East title, 1990-91, on way to the franchise's first Finals appearance.

Then they won that title and the next two titles for their first three-peat.

Jordan took off almost two seasons to play baseball, returned in 1995 and began a second three-peat, still with the Bulls.

While LeBron fishes around to see where he might be able to form an all-star team, perhaps he can take a look at Jordan and Scottie Pippen's supporting cast for the Bulls' first title run: Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, Craig Hodges, Dennis Hopson, Stacey King, Cliff Levingston, John Paxson, Will Perdue, Scott Williams. B.J. Armstrong and Steve Kerr came aboard the following season.

Then with another average supporting cast, the Bulls won 57 games in the regular season and went 15-4 in the playoffs to cap their first three-peat.

Dennis Rodman came along for the second run. But the point is that Jordan dominated the NBA without always having a spectacular supporting cast.

And he did it with one team.

Nothing against LeBron, it really isn't. But if he wants to make the rules, some of us will make our own rule:

If he goes onto another team of stars, no more comparisons to MJ — ever.

If Bartolo Colon's not making ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue, I'm not buying it.

U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard on Portugal's last-minute game-tying goal:

"Football is cruel sometimes.''

Thanks, Tim. Like Jets fans need a reminder.

You know those thoughts in which you are probably better off keeping to yourself, ones that are on the unique, if not offbeat, end of the cerebral spectrum?

My problem is that in the spirit of having this forum, I feel compelled to share those offbeat, perhaps unpopular, viewpoints with all you fine folks.

Given that glowing set-up, please answer this question for me:

Why must every baseball fan over 18 years old who gets a foul ball be obligated to give it to any random kid?

Not only are such adults open to criticism if they don't give the ball to any kid, I've noticed. But given the social media-inflamed climate, these folks are pretty much considered the worst human beings on Earth.

I love kids, OK? At this very moment, I have four of them playing in my living room, only half of whom are mine.

But if I get a foul ball at a game and neither of my kids is in the vicinity, must I explain to anyone why I hung onto the ball for one of my kids — instead of handing it to a stranger?

Because I firmly believe that very few, if any, young children are going to be permanently scarred if they attend a game without getting a ball.